But one day the Gestapo caught up with
Malevergne, whisked him to Rabat for two months of questioning and solitary
confinement, then flew him to France to stand trial. Somehow, he managed
to convince the court that no one could guide a small boat through the
mountainous surf off Mehdia. A few months later, the Germans shipped him
to Casablanca on parole. Two American Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
agents approached Malevergne and he quickly agreed to serve the Allied
cause.

"The problem", former OSS Col Corney
Ford later wrote, "was how to smuggle him past the French and Spanish border-control
posts into Tangier. Two OSS (agents) volunteered to run the gauntlet in
their ancient Chevrolet, carrying Malevergne secreted in the trailer …
stashed behind some gasoline drums, covered with a Moroccan rug and a heavy
canvas tarpaulin.

"They passed the French border post
without incident, but at the Spanish post the sentry demanded to know what
was in the trailer. While one of the agents was examining the gasoline
drums in the rear, the other noticed to his dismay that the sentry's dog
was sniffing at the front of the tarpaulin and bristling suspiciously.
With rare presence of mind, he produced a tin of canned meat from his lunch
box to distract the dog's attention. The sentry was overwhelmed by this
generosity to his pet, and motioned them through the control post gates
with a sweeping gesture. Safe at last in Tangier, Malevergne was helped
out of his cramped hiding place, slightly stiff but otherwise intact, and
flown to Washington by way of Gibraltar."

There his extensive knowledge of
wind, tide, current and surf were used to help plan Operation Torch - the
invasion of North Africa.

The key to the African invasion was the airfield at Port-Lyautey, located 12
miles up the Sebou River from Mehdia. The field, the only concrete, all-weather
strip in Morocco, would have to be captured, then stocked with high-octane
gasoline, bombs and ammunition so that an American fighter group, catapulted
from an escort carrier, could land and provide cover for bombers to be
flown in from Gibraltar.

The first step would be to cut the
wire net and boom which the Vichy French had installed to block the Sebou.
After that, a pilot would be needed to guide two ships up the shallow,
winding river. The first, the destroyer Dallas, would land
a raider detachment at Port-Lyautey to help capture the airfield. Then
a cargo vessel - identity still unknown - would steam up the river and
deliver gasoline, bombs and ammunition.